FATE OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING COMPOUNDS (EDCS) AND NON- STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDS) DURING ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF SEWAGE SLUDGE V. G. SAMARAS a , K.A. BERTOLI a , N.P. SPIROU a , A.S. STASINAKIS a , N.S. THOMAIDIS b AND T.D. LEKKAS a a Water and Air Quality Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece b Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece SUMMARY: The objective of this study was to investigate the fate of selected endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in lab-scale anaerobic digesters, operating under single stage and two-stage thermophilic and mesophiilic anaerobic conditions. Within the context of this study, the performance of all digestion systems was determined, monitoring several parameters such as pH, volatile suspended solids removal, total COD removal, concentrations of VFAs and alkalinity as well as biogas daily production. Regarding micropollutants, almost all investigated compounds underwent microbially degradation. The highest removal efficiency was calculated for diclofenac, ibuprofen and ketoprofen (>80%), whereas lower removal efficiencies were observed for triclosan, naproxen, bisphenol and nonylphenol diethoxylate (40-70%). On the other hand, the elimination of nonylphenol and nonylphenol monoethoxylate was very low or even negative, indicating their persistence during anaerobic sludge treatment.